CELINE SAFFRAY
Director

Celine was always attracted to luxury hotels and the dream of travelling around the world. After studying in Paris, she started her career with Rocco Forte in Brussels. Celine has since worked in the best hotels in the world and has become an expert in luxury five-star hotels and service.

Her impressive track record includes the Maybourne Group (Claridges, The Connaught, The Berkeley) then moving onto Dorchester Collection as Director of Sales. Before joining Katy at Suite DNA, Celine was Director of Sales and Marketing at Bulgari Hotel London. Her role within these incredible properties meant she was travelling every few weeks from Europe to South America and Asia.

Celine joined forces with Katy in 2015 and has never looked back. Her incredible knowledge and network of people and the inner workings of luxury hotels ensures nothing gets past her and every one of our clients is looked after spectacularly.

They love escaping and travelling, although Celine and Katy also believe that there are certain places in the world that you should stop at and just breathe. Between them, they have many stories between the pages of their passports in many far-off lands. Some of these places have a certain magic and life is too short to keep that magic all to themselves.

KATY MCCANN
Managing Director

Initially a young newspaper editor in Madrid, Katy started her life in travel at the Mr & Mrs Smith Hotel Collection in 2003. She developed the company for 10 years together with the owners. Katy visited over 2000 hotels, travelling for seven months of every year and selectively handpicking the collection’s finest hotels and villas in 80 countries.

Driven by a desire to create something of her own and share her knowledge, Suite DNA was born in 2013. With a relentless love for travel, the company continues to grow Suiter and Suiter. Celine Saffray joining as co-owner in 2016 gave Suite DNA a real boost. Today, Katy and Celine’s passion for travel and the joy their knowledge can bring to clients drives them forever forward.

Katy has also helped to develop some stunning hotels. The first consultancy project was to convert a 13^th century hunting lodge in Spain into a boutique hotel. A few months after opening the hotel was included in the Conde Nast Gold List as one of the most exciting new openings globally. The second project took two years to develop from the ground up, located right on the ocean on Sri Lanka’s south coast. Again, months after opening the property appeared in all major publications and has been nominated for multiple awards, including the SLH award for most innovative Instagram and digital marketing strategy.

MANNY PINON

Manny Pinon is Managing Director and one of four founders of the Ampito Group. As well excelling in the technology and business world, Manny loves travelling and especially if it includes a road trip and sport. He started his early career in finance, moving quickly into technology in the early 90s. Manny has guided various businesses from innovative, disruptive start-ups to trade sale and stock market float. Manny now continues to build Ampito Group with his incubator strategy.

Manny has been integral in the development of Suite Ride. We combine Ampito’s in-depth knowledge of roads and cars with Suite DNA’s expertise of hotels, destinations, activities, and the best restaurants to stop at along the way. Super cars have been the speciality so far with an eye on other types of trips in the future, both in Europe and the US. From ice driving, navigating Defenders in the Andes and super car trips accompanied by pro-instructors, with exclusive access to private test tracks along the way.

Following Manny’s love of sport, Ampito Sports also sits under the Ampito umbrella. Their squash academy trains players to rise up the rankings, impressively working with and sponsoring two seeded players, both of whom play for Team GB.

Manny and Suite DNA are involved in supporting various charities, including Football Chance Foundation and George Lavender. George supports and mentors young people in the London areas where he grew up, using football as a base and inspiration. Ampito is also involved in Justice & Care, which fights human trafficking, bringing exploiters to justice and offering support to its victims.